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Supply Shifters Interactive Map

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About This MicroSim

This MicroSim teaches the six ROTTEN factors that shift the supply curve: Resource prices, Other goods' profitability, Technology, Taxes and subsidies, Expectations, and Number of sellers. Students click on each factor card to see the supply curve shift left or right with a smooth animation, while a detailed explanation describes why that factor causes the shift. This is a critical distinction from movement along a supply curve, which is caused only by a change in the good's own price.

How to Use

  1. Click a ROTTEN factor card on the right side of the simulation to select it. The supply curve will animate to show the shift direction.
  2. Use the dropdown to toggle between "Increase Supply" and "Decrease Supply" to see how the same factor can shift the curve in either direction depending on circumstances.
  3. Read the explanation at the bottom of the graph area for a detailed description of why the selected factor causes the shift.
  4. Compare the original and shifted curves: the dashed gray line shows the original position (S1) while the solid orange line shows the new position (S2).
  5. Click "Reset" to return the supply curve to its original position.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/economics-course/sims/supply-shifters/main.html"
        height="482px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

9-12 (High School Economics)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of what a supply curve represents
  • Knowledge of the difference between a shift of the curve and movement along the curve

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 min): Click through all six ROTTEN factors in both "Increase Supply" and "Decrease Supply" modes. For each factor, note whether it shifts the curve left or right and why.
  2. Guided Practice (5 min): For the following real-world scenarios, predict which ROTTEN factor is involved and which direction supply shifts: (a) a new robotic pizza oven is invented, (b) the government adds a tax on flour, (c) three new pizza shops open in town.
  3. Assessment (5 min): Write a paragraph explaining why a drought (which raises wheat prices) would shift the supply curve for bread to the left, identifying which ROTTEN factor applies.

Assessment

  • Students can name all six ROTTEN supply shifter categories
  • Students can correctly predict the direction of a supply curve shift given a real-world event
  • Students can distinguish between a shift of the supply curve and a movement along it

References

  1. Supply (economics) - Wikipedia - Factors that shift the supply curve including input prices, technology, and expectations.
  2. Shifts in Supply - Khan Academy - Article and practice problems on supply shifters.
  3. Determinants of Supply - Investopedia - Overview of the non-price determinants of supply.